Powdered emulsion for animal feed

ABSTRACT

An emulsifier in powder form for animal feeds is described. A process for preparing the animal feed is also described.

The present invention relates to an emulsifier in powder form for animalfeeds. The present invention further relates to a process for preparingsaid animal feed.

It is known about the presence on the market of liquid emulsifiers usedin the production of animal feeds. However, liquid emulsifiers have somelimitations that do not always allow them to be used easily andsatisfactorily.

In general, a liquid emulsifier can have such a solidification pointthat at given outer temperature, e.g. below 15° C., the emulsifierbecomes solid and/or hardly usable in feed plants provided with multiplecomplex pipes and distribution and dosing valves. At such outertemperatures the emulsifier must be kept within heated tanks and/orsupplied to the feed plants by means of heated pipes so as to preventthe emulsifier from freezing.

It can therefore be inferred that in some countries with cold climatesor with particularly frigid winters during which the outer temperatureis below 15° C. (pressure 1 atm), some emulsifiers cannot be easilyused.

Moreover, the storage of an emulsifier in liquid form and the use/dosagethereof in plants have some limitations.

Field experts therefore need to have an emulsifier for animal feedswhich can adequately respond to the limitations and drawbacks ofemulsifiers as described above.

It would be desirable to have an emulsifier for animal feeds which,beyond being without the limitations and drawbacks described above, canalso be easily handled and used in existing plants for the production ofanimal feeds in solid form, such as e.g. in pellet form, and which isalso performing as far as the following aspects are concerned:

(i) amount of feed produced: in terms of increase of hourly output (tonof feed produced/hour) or, hourly output being the same, reduction ofenergy consumption (ampere/hour);

(ii) physical-chemical characteristics of feed produced: in terms ofincrease of pellet durability index (PDI), temperature and moisture ofpellet produced and reduction of the amount of powder generated (averagepowder diameter and % produced);

(iii) efficiency of feed manufacturing plant: in terms of reduction ofheight wear of dies present in pelleting plants and reduction of thenumber of downtimes for maintenance which the plant must deal with.

After an intensive research and development activity, the Applicant hasresponded to the above mentioned needs by developing an emulsifier inpowder form.

An object of the present invention is a solid composition in powder formhaving the characteristics as defined in the appended claim.

An object of the present invention is a process for preparing said solidcomposition in powder form having the characteristics as defined in theappended claim.

An object of the present invention is the use of said solid compositionin powder form for preparing an animal feed having the characteristicsas defined in the appended claim.

An object of the present invention is an animal feed comprising saidsolid composition in powder form having the characteristics as definedin the appended claim.

An object of the present invention is a solid mixture comprising saidsolid composition in powder form having the characteristics as definedin the appended claim.

An object of the present invention is a process for preparing said solidmixture in powder form having the characteristics as defined in theappended claim.

An object of the present invention is the use of said solid mixture inpowder form for preparing an animal feed having the characteristics asdefined in the appended claim.

An object of the present invention is an animal feed comprising saidsolid mixture in powder form having the characteristics as defined inthe appended claim.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be provided below inthe following detailed description.

The solid composition of the present invention is a solid composition inpowder form. Said solid composition comprises a carrier or support inpowder form. On the carrier or support was incorporated or adsorbed orabsorbed or applied on the outer surface, by means of the techniques,processes and equipment known to skilled technicians, at least oneemulsifier (i)-(vii) chosen from the group comprising or alternativelyconsisting of:

(i) a mixture comprising or alternatively consisting of an ethoxylatedcastor oil and at least one vegetable olein;

(ii) a mixture comprising or alternatively consisting of an ethoxylatedcastor oil, at least one vegetable olein and a propylene glycol;

(iii) a mixture comprising or alternatively consisting of polyethyleneglycol esters of fatty acid from soya oil;

(iv) a mixture comprising or alternatively consisting of polyethyleneglycol esters of fatty acid from soya oil, and at least one vegetableolein;

(v) a mixture comprising or alternatively consisting of polyethyleneglycol esters of fatty acid from soya oil, at least one vegetable oleinand a propylene glycol;

(vi) a mixture comprising or alternatively consisting of a mixturecomprising or alternatively consisting of an ethoxylated castor oil andpolyethylene glycol esters of fatty acid from soya oil; or

(vii) a mixture (i)-(vi).

The carrier or support is in powder form and is present in said solidcomposition in an amount by weight from 20% to 50%, with respect to theweight of the solid composition, preferably in an amount by weight from30% to 40%, with respect to the weight of the solid composition; whereassaid at least one emulsifier which is incorporated or adsorbed orabsorbed or applied on the outer surface is chosen from the groupcomprising or alternatively consisting of the emulsifiers (i)-(vii) andis present in said solid composition in an amount by weight from 80% to50%, with respect to the weight of the solid composition, preferably inan amount by weight from 70% to 60%, with respect to the weight of thesolid composition.

The carrier or support is chosen from the group comprising oralternatively consisting of (a) inorganic substrates or (b) vegetablesubstrates. Preferably, said (a) inorganic substrate is chosen from thegroup comprising or alternatively consisting of:

-   -   (a1) silica; preferably the silica is a colloidal silica and is        preferably chosen from the group comprising E551a and/or E551b;    -   (a2) bentonites;    -   (a3) zeolites;    -   (a4) sepiolite, preferably the sepiolite is a sepiolite E562;    -   (a5) perlite, preferably the perlite is a perlite E599.

Preferably, said (a) inorganic substrates have an average granulometricdistribution from 50 to 250 microns, preferably from 100 to 200 microns,for at least 95% of substrate.

As an alternative, the carrier or support is chosen from the groupscomprising or alternatively consisting of (b) vegetable substrates.

Preferably, said (b) vegetable substrates are chosen from the groupcomprising or alternatively consisting of:

-   -   (b1) corn cob or corn fiber;    -   (b2) broad bean fiber;    -   (b3) pea fiber, wood fiber or grape seed.

Preferably, said (b) vegetable substrates have an average granulometricdistribution from 50 to 250 microns, preferably from 100 to 200 microns,for at least 95% of substrate.

In one embodiment, the solid composition of the present invention inpowder form comprises a carrier or support in powder form, as describedabove, on which was incorporated or adsorbed or absorbed or applied onthe surface, by means of the techniques, processes, equipment and underthe operating conditions known to skilled technicians, at least oneemulsifier (i), as described above, comprising or alternativelyconsisting of a mixture comprising or alternatively consisting of anethoxylated castor oil and at least one vegetable olein.

Ethoxylated castor oil, also known as glyceryl polyethylene glycolricinoleate or glycerol polyethylene glycol ricinoleate (additiveE484-EU Reg. 1831/2003), is a surfactant compound or an emulsifieradmitted in the list of additives for animal nutrition.

The ethoxylated castor oil contained in said emulsifier (i) oremulsifier (ii) can contain from 8 to 80 ethylene oxy groups; preferablyfrom 10 to 50 ethylene oxy groups; still more preferably from 20 to 40ethylene oxy groups. The listed values are to be regarded as averageethoxylation values.

Ethoxylated castor oil containing e.g. 20 ethylene oxy groups (anethylene oxy group derives from the ethoxylation of castor oil withethylene oxide) means a product obtained by reacting 1 mole of castoroil (generally, a castor oil can contain e.g. ricinoleic acid in anamount by weight from 85% to 95%, oleic acid in an amount by weight from2% to 6%, linoleic acid in an amount by weight from 5 to 1%, linolenicacid in an amount by weight from 1 to 0.5%, stearic acid in an amount byweight from 1 to 0.5%, palmitic acid in an amount by weight from 1 to0.5%, dihydroxystearic acid in an amount by weight from 1 to 0.5%, andother compounds in an amount by weight from 0.5% to 0.2%] with 20 molesof ethylene oxide according to the techniques, processes, equipment andunder the operating conditions known to skilled technicians.

In the framework of the present invention and in the continuationthereof, reference will be made in general to “ethoxylated castor oil”to refer to one or more ethoxylated castor oils, contained in theemulsifiers (i) or (ii) or (vi), having a variable number of ethyleneoxy groups, without limitations but to the sole purpose of simplifyingthe present description.

Therefore, the emulsifier (i) comprises or alternatively consists of amixture comprising or alternatively consisting of “an ethoxylated castoroil” and at least one vegetable olein. In one embodiment, saidethoxylated castor oil is represented by additive E484-EU Reg.1831/2003.

Conversely, the emulsifier (ii) comprises or alternatively consists of amixture comprising or alternatively consisting of “an ethoxylated castoroil”, at least one vegetable olein and a propylene glycol.

Polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids from soya oil, contained inthe emulsifiers (iii) or (iv) or (v) or (vi), are surfactant compoundsor emulsifiers admitted in the list of additives for animal nutrition.Polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids from soya oil can berepresented by additive E487-EU Reg. 1831/2003.

Said polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids from soya oil (additiveE487-EU Reg. 1831/2003) are obtained according to the techniques,processes, equipment and under the operating conditions known to skilledtechnicians.

For instance, polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids from soya oil(additive E487-EU Reg. 1831/2003) can be obtained starting from soyaoil, e.g. from hydrolyzed soya oil triglycerides, according to thetechniques, processes, equipment and under the operating conditionsknown to skilled technicians, to obtain soya oil saturated and/orunsaturated fatty acids. Said fatty acids are then ethoxylated withethylene oxide, according to the techniques, processes, equipment andunder the operating conditions known to skilled technicians. Ethyleneoxide binds to the carboxyl of the fatty acid so as to obtain the fattyacid from ethoxylated soya oil.

For instance, said polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids from soyaoil (additive E487-EU Reg. 1831/2003) can be obtained from the reactionbetween a polyethylene glycol—for shortness referred to as PEG [CAS No.25322-68-3; structure formula HOCH₂—(CH₂—O—CH₂)_((n-1))—CH₂OH orH—(OCH₂—CH₂)_(n)—OH; molecular weight e.g. from 100 to 10000] with thefatty acids obtained from soya oil or with the soya oil fats ortriglycerides according to the techniques, processes, equipment andunder the operating conditions known to skilled technicians.

Fatty acids obtained from soya oil mean one or more fatty acids obtained(e.g. by hydrolysis) according to the techniques, processes, equipmentand under the operating conditions known to skilled technicians.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) can have a molecular weight from 200 to 5000;preferably, polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight from 300 to 4000;still more preferably from 400 to 3500.

In one embodiment, polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight from 500to 1500. In one embodiment, polyethylene glycol has a molecular weightfrom 600 to 1000, e.g. from 700 to 900.

Soya oil (100 g) generally has the following composition: about 16 g ofsaturated fats, about 23 g of monounsaturated fats, about 58 g ofpolyunsaturated fats and about 3% of other compounds.

From a soya oil, preferably a refined soya oil, the following fattyacids can be generally obtained:

-   -   alpha-linolenic acid (C-18:3)—CAS number 463-40-1, about 5 to        10%;    -   linoleic acid (C-18:2)—CAS number 60-33-3, about 50 to 60%;    -   oleic acid (C-18:1)—CAS number 112-80-1, about 18 to 25%;    -   stearic acid—CAS number 57-11-4, about 3 to 6%;    -   palmitic acid—CAS number 57-10-3, about 8 to 12%.

The polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids from soya oil of thepresent invention (additive E487-EU Reg. No. 1831/2003) can be forinstance in the form of monoesters or diesters or mixtures thereof.

For instance, polyethylene glycol PEG was reacted with a fatty acid fromsoya oil in a molar ratio 1:1, or with a mixture of fatty acids fromsoya oil in a molar ratio 1:1, so as to obtain monoesters.

For instance, polyethylene glycol PEG was reacted with a fatty acid fromsoya oil in a molar ratio 1:2, or with a mixture of fatty acids fromsoya oil in a molar ratio 1:2, so as to obtain diesters.

As an alternative, the polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids fromsoya oil in the framework of the present invention can be obtained bysubjecting the fatty acids of soya oil and/or the fats or triglyceridesof soya oil to an ethoxylation process with ethylene oxide according tothe techniques, processes, equipment and under the operating conditionsknown to skilled technicians. For instance, the fatty acids of soya oilhaving a CAS No. 068308-53-2, code EINECS 269-657-0 and the followingcomposition (analysis process DGF-C-VI 11e: C16, 9-12%; C16:1, 0-1%;C18, 2-6%; C18:1, 20-29%; C18:2, 47-58%, C18:3, 4-10%; others 0-1%;below or equal to C14, 0-1%; above or equal to C20, 0-2%) can beethoxylated so as to obtain a final average ethoxylation degree of 20moles or 40 moles.

In the framework of the present invention and in the continuationthereof, reference will be made in general to “polyethylene glycolesters of fatty acids from soya oil” to refer to one or more of saidesters, contained in the emulsifiers (iii) or (iv) or (v)r o (vi) havinga components polyethylene glycol PEG with a variable molecular weightand a components of fatty acids of soya oil, both of which are variable,without limitations but to the sole purpose of simplifying the presentdescription.

Therefore, the emulsifier (iii) comprises or alternatively consists of“polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids from soya oil”. In oneembodiment, said polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids from soya oilare represented by additive E487-EU Reg. 1831/2003.

Moreover, the emulsifier (iv) comprises or alternatively consists of amixture comprising or alternatively consisting of “polyethylene glycolesters of fatty acids from soya oil” and at least one vegetable olein.In one embodiment, said polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids fromsoya oil are represented by additive E487-EU Reg. 1831/2003, whereasoleins are described below.

Finally, the emulsifier (v) comprises or alternatively consists of amixture comprising or alternatively consisting of “polyethylene glycolesters of fatty acids from soya oil”, at least one vegetable olein and apropylene glycol. In one embodiment, said polyethylene glycol esters offatty acids from soya oil are represented by additive E487-EU Reg.1831/2003, whereas oleins are described below.

As an alternative, the emulsifier (vi) comprises or alternativelyconsists of a mixture comprising or alternatively consisting of “anethoxylated castor oil” and “polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acidsfrom soya oil”. In one embodiment, said ethoxylated castor oil isrepresented by additive E484-EU Reg. 1831/2003 and said polyethyleneglycol esters of fatty acids from soya oil are represented by additiveE487-EU Reg. 1831/2003.

The polyethylene glycol component contained in said “polyethylene glycolesters of fatty acids from soya oil” has a molecular weight from 100 to1000 and the fatty acid component contained in soya oil fatty acid isalpha-linolenic acid (C-18:3)—CAS number 463-40-1, or linoleic acid(C-18:2)—CAS number 60-33-3, or oleic acid (C-18:1)—CAS number 112-80-1,or stearic acid—CAS number 57-11-4, or palmitic acid—CAS number 57-10-3or mixtures thereof; in particular the soya oil fatty acid can be chosenfrom a mixture of alpha-linolenic acid and/or linoleic acid and/or oleicacid in a weight ratio of 1:1:1 or 1:1:2 or 1:2:1 or 1:2:2.

The vegetable olein or oleins, contained in the emulsifiers (i), (ii),(iv) and (v) forming an object of the present invention, are chosen fromthe group comprising or alternatively consisting of oleic acid, linoleicacid, linolenic acid, a triglyceride of oleic acid [(C₁₇H₃₃COO)₃C₃H₅](also known as triolein), a vegetable oil or mixtures thereof.

Said vegetable oil can be chosen from the group comprising oralternatively consisting of olive oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, peanutoil, corn oil, palm oil, sunflower oil and/or soya oil. The emulsifiers(i), (ii), (iv) and (v) can comprise or alternatively consist of anolive oil and/or a palm oil.

Said at least one vegetable olein or vegetable oleins, contained in theemulsifiers (i), (ii), (iv) and (v), forming an object of the presentinvention, comprise (amount by weight with respect to the total weightof the vegetable olein) or alternatively consist of an oleic acid(C18:1) in an amount from 70 to 99% by weight, with respect to the totalweight of the vegetable olein, and/or a linoleic acid (C18:2) in anamount from 30 to 1% by weight, with respect to the total weight of thevegetable olein.

Said at least one vegetable olein or vegetable oleins, contained in theemulsifiers (i), (ii), (iv) and (v), forming an object of the presentinvention, comprise (amount by weight with respect to the total weightof the vegetable olein) or alternatively consist of an oleic acid(C18:1) in an amount from 75 to 90% by weight, with respect to the totalweight of the vegetable olein; preferably from 80 to 85% by weight, withrespect to the total weight of the vegetable olein, and/or a linoleicacid (C18:2) in an amount from 25 to 10% by weight, with respect to thetotal weight of the vegetable olein; preferably an oleic acid in anamount from 80 to 85% by weight, with respect to the total weight of thevegetable olein; and/or a linoleic acid in an amount from 20 to 15% byweight, with respect to the total weight of the vegetable olein.

Said at least one vegetable olein or vegetable oleins, contained in theemulsifiers (i), (ii), (iv) and (v), forming an object of the presentinvention, as described above, can further comprise some saturated fattyacids with a number of carbon atoms of 18 or below, in an amount below15% by weight, preferably in an amount from 5 to 10% weight.

In one embodiment, the vegetable olein or vegetable oleins, contained inthe emulsifiers (i), (ii), (iv) and (v), forming an object of thepresent invention, is an olein having the following parameters: EINECS266-932-7, CAS No. 67701-08-0 and having a chain distribution (%)[process ISO 5508] of: C14 or below, 0-4; C16 2-6; C18 0-3; C18′ (oleicacid) above 75; C18″ (linoleic acid) 8-13; above C18 0-2.

Said at least one vegetable olein or vegetable oleins, contained in theemulsifiers (i), (ii), (iv) and (v), forming an object of the presentinvention, comprise or alternatively consist of a vegetable oil.

The vegetable oil can be chosen from the group comprising oralternatively consisting of olive oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, peanutoil, corn oil, palm oil, sunflower oil and/or soya oil. The emulsifierof the present invention can comprise or alternatively consist of anolive oil and/or a palm oil.

In one embodiment, said at least one vegetable olein or vegetableoleins, contained in the emulsifiers (i), (ii), (iv) and (v), forming anobject of the present invention, comprise or alternatively consist of avegetable oil and an oleic oil in a weight ratio from 1:3 to 3:1,preferably from 1:2 to 2:1, still more preferably in a weight ratio of1:1. Preferably, the oleic acid is chosen among products having aconcentration of oleic acid above 70% by weight, preferably above 90% byweight.

Palm olein can have a composition such as: C12:0=2-3%, C14:0=0.5-1%,C16:0=4-5%, C18:0=2-3%, C18:1=70-80%, C18:2=10-15%, other substancesabout 1%.

Sunflower oil can have a composition such as: C16:0=5-15%, C18:0=2-8%,C18:1=20-35%, C18:2=45-70%, C18:3=0-7%.

In one embodiment, another vegetable olein can have the followingcompositions: acids with a number of carbon atoms of or below C14=2-3%,C16:0=4-5%, C18:0=1-2%, C18:1=75-80%, C18:2=10-11%.

In one embodiment, another vegetable olein can have the followingcomposition: C18:0 below 15%, C18:1 above 75%, C18:2 below 15%, othersubstances below 1%.

The determination of the composition of the fatty acids by means of gaschromatographic analysis can be carried out with the process NGD C42-76. Conversely, the determination of the triglycerides in thevegetable oils by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)can be carried out with the process NGD C 45-91: 22024 (1992).

In the framework of the present invention and in the continuationthereof, reference will be made in general to “olein or oleins” to referto one or more of the above mentioned vegetable oleins contained in theemulsifiers (i), (ii), (iv) and (v), forming an object of the presentinvention, without limitations but to the sole purpose of simplifyingthe present description.

The glycols contained in the mixture forming an object of the presentinvention are chosen among non-toxic glycols which are acceptable foranimal nutrition. The glycols are present in the emulsifiers (ii) and(v), forming an object of the present invention, in an amount from 2% to25% by weight, preferably from 5% to 20% by weight; still morepreferably from 10% to 15% by weight, with respect to the total weightof the mixture; advantageously 10% by weight.

Advantageously, the presence of glycols in the emulsifiers (ii) and (v),forming an object of the present invention, lowers the freezing pointthereof keeping them in liquid state and therefore enabling the use ofthe mixture even at temperatures below 0° C. (zero), preferably attemperatures from 0° C. to minus 20° C. (−20° C.).

An object of the present invention is a process for preparing said solidcomposition in powder form, wherein said process includes a step inwhich one of the emulsifiers (i)-(vii), in liquid state, is incorporatedor adsorbed or absorbed or applied on the outer surface of a carrier orsupport (a) and/or (b), as described above, by spraying or mechanical orair mixing of said emulsifier in liquid state, preferably at atemperature from 25 to 45° C. It is essential that at the end of theprocess the solid composition in powder form remains free flowing at aroom temperature of 25° C. (pressure 1 Atm), so as to avoid packingphenomena and enable a homogenous distribution thereof in the maincomponent of the solid mixture described below.

An object of the present invention is an animal feed comprising saidsolid composition in powder form, preferably in an amount by weight from5 to 50%. In practice, said solid composition in powder form can bemechanically mixed with the components of a basic feed formulation suchas e.g. a corn-based formulation for poultry (% by weight): corn 45%,soya 21%, wheat 15%, fats/oils (soya oil, palm oil, sunflower oil,poultry fat) 8%, soya seed 10%, supplements (vitamins and minerals) 1%.

An object of the present invention is a solid mixture comprising saidsolid composition in powder form and a mineral inert, said mineral inertbeing chosen from the group comprising or alternatively consisting ofcalcium oxide, magnesium-calcium oxide, magnesium oxide.

In one embodiment, the mineral inert is represented by a mixturecomprising magnesium oxide with a content by weight of at least 95%,silicon oxide with a content by weight below 1%, calcium oxide with acontent by weight below 2.5% and iron (III) oxide and aluminum oxideeach below 0.04%. Said mixture has the commercial name of LuvoMag MOW-92 (Lehmann & Voss & Co.) and has the following characteristics: Mg %min. 55.5; MgO % min. 92; SiO₂% max. 3; CaO % max. 2.5; Al₂O₃% max. 0.5;Fe₂O₃% max. 0.2. The average granulometry is below 70 μm/200 mesh, at amin. % of 95%.

The solid mixture of the present invention comprises said solidcomposition in powder form in an amount by weight from 5% to 30%,preferably of 10%, and said mineral inert material in an amount from 95%to 70%, preferably of 90%.

The solid mixture forming an object of the present invention is preparedby mechanically mixing said solid composition in powder form with saidmineral inert so as to obtain a homogeneous mixture which keeps its freeflowing characteristics. In practice, the solid composition in powderform can be homogeneously and uniformly distributed on the outer surfaceof the granules of said mineral inert by modifying the degree oflipophilia and hydrophilia of the mineral inert and therefore also ofthe final solid mixture. The solid composition of the present inventionand the mixture thus prepared behave like a colloid. The solid mixturecan be distributed on the components and ingredients constituting theanimal feed in solid form as pellets. These physical-chemicalcharacteristics of the solid mixture of the present invention enable toincrease pellet production in an animal feed plant, decrease the contentof powders produced (by-product to be avoided for reasons involvingyield and operators' health), spare required energy at the same level ofproduction, and stabilize the water of content of about 12% by weight.

An object of the present invention is an animal feed in solid formcontaining liquid and/or solid nutritive substances, the solid ones aspowders or granules or pellets or cubes, which comprises said solidmixture, as described above.

The Applicant has found that the use of the solid mixture forming anobject of the present invention for preparing an animal feed in pelletform is highly performing (see Tables 1 and 2) as far as the followingaspects are concerned:

(i) amount of feed produced: in terms of increase of hourly output (tonof feed produced/hour) or, hourly output being the same, reduction ofenergy consumption (ampere/hour);

(ii) physical-chemical characteristics of feed produced: in terms ofincrease of pellet durability index (PDI), temperature and moisture ofpellet produced and reduction of the amount of powder generated (averagepowder diameter and % produced);

(iii) efficiency of feed manufacturing plant: in terms of reduction ofheight wear of dies present in pelleting plants and reduction of thenumber of downtimes for maintenance which the plant must deal with.

The animal feed of the present invention is preferably a dry feed in theform of cubes or pellets or granules or powders, which comprises saidsolid mixture.

In the framework of the present invention, animal feed means by way ofnon-limiting example a feed for pigs, fish, poultry such as chickens andturkeys, and ruminants, e.g. cows and calves at any stage of growth.

The present invention also relates to a process for preparing said feed.

An object of the present invention is a process for preparing an animalfeed in solid form, wherein said process comprises at least a step inwhich the solid mixture, forming an object of the present inventions, isadded to the liquid and/or solid (in powder or granular form) nutritivesubstances or optionally to other liquid or solid components of theanimal feed.

In a preferred embodiment, the animal feed can further contain ahydrophobic component of animal or vegetable origin in liquid or solidform at room temperature (T 20° C. and pressure 1 atmosphere), saidhydrophobic component being chosen from the group comprising animaland/or vegetable lipids, animal and/or vegetable oils, animal and/orvegetable fats; preferably it is an animal fat.

In a first case, said hydrophobic component is first added with thesolid mixture of the present invention and then with the liquid orpowder or granular nutritive substances or with other solid componentsof the animal feed or with a mixture of two or more of these components.

In a second case, said hydrophobic component is first added with theliquid or powder or granular nutritive substances or with other solidcomponents of the animal feed or with a mixture of two or more of thesecomponents and then with the solid mixture of the present invention.

In another embodiment, the solid mixture of the present invention can beadded directly to a liquid or solid hydrophobic component at roomtemperature such as e.g. an animal and/or vegetable lipid, an oil,preferably a vegetable oil, a liquid and/or solid fat, preferably ananimal fat, and then to the liquid or powder or granular nutritivesubstances or with the other solid components of the animal feed.

If the solid mixture of the present invention is used, the industrialpreparation of an animal feed includes the preparation of a pre-mixturecontaining macro-elements such as e.g. soya, corn, animal or vegetableflours, and micro-elements such as e.g. mineral salts, vitamins, flavorsand other substances commonly used by skilled technicians. Depending onthe type of feed other components can also be added to the pre-mixture,such as cereals, barley, rye and rice, vegetable proteins e.g. proteinsfrom soya, from sunflower, from corn or other proteins commonly used byskilled technicians. The pre-mixture is then added with the solidmixture of the present invention comprising the emulsifiers (i)-(vii).

The animal feed forming an object of the present invention can comprisesaid solid mixture in an amount from 0.5 kg to 1.5 kg/ton of feed.

The animal feed of the present invention can be subjected to a pelletingor extrusion step so as to obtain a feed with variable size that istypical of pellet or granular feeds for animals.

The present invention will now be described by means of someexperimental tests whose results are shown in Tables 1 and 2 as a merelyillustrative and therefore non-limiting purpose of the scope of thepresent invention.

TABLE 1 TURKEYS - CORN BASIS NORMAL TURKEYS - CORN BASIS WITH PRODUCTIONsolid mixture of the invention 1st 2st 1st test 2nd test control control0.5 kg/ton 1.5 Kg/ton T° C. 74 78   85 87 AMP. 350* 350*   380 400 T/h  13.0 14.00 20 22 UM.C. 1500  15.00 16.00 16.30 UM.F.   11.30 11.6012.50 12.70 PDI 93 92   98 98 Die Die Die Die 80 × 3.5 mm 65 × 3.5 mm 65× 3.5 mm 50 × 3.5 mm *increasing production the machine gets stuck UM.F.Pellet moisture Notes: The solid mixture of the present invention allowsto strongly reduce die thickness, thus highly increasing output and theamount of pellet produced

TABLE 2 PIGS - FATTENING ON PIGS - FATTENING WITH CORN BASIS solidmixture of the invention 1st 2nd 1st test 2nd test control control 0.5kg/ton 1.50 kg/ton T° C. 72 75 78-80 85 AMP. 330* 320* 360 400 T/h 12 1216 20 U.F.   11.20   11.30 12.03 12.70 PDI 88 85 95 98 Die Die Die Die80 × 3.5 mm 65 × 3.5 mm 70 × 3.5 mm 40 × 3.5 mm Notes: The solid mixtureof the present invention allows to strongly reduce die thickness, thushighly increasing output and the amount of pellet produced

1. A solid mixture comprising: a solid composition in powder formcomprising: a carrier or support in powder form, with at least oneemulsifier incorporated, or adsorbed or absorbed or applied on an outerface of the carrier or support in powder form, the at least oneemulsifier chosen from the group consisting of: (i) a mixture comprisingan ethoxylated castor oil and at least one vegetable olein; (ii) amixture comprising an ethoxylated castor oil, at least one vegetableolein and a propylene glycol; (iii) a mixture of (i)-(ii), and a mineralinert comprising calcium oxide, magnesium-calcium oxide, and/ormagnesium oxide; wherein said solid mixture comprises said solidcomposition in powder form in an amount by weight from 5% to 30% andsaid mineral inert in an amount by weight from 70% to 95%.
 2. The solidmixture according to claim 1, wherein: said castor oil is additive E484,and said at least one vegetable olein is chosen from the groupconsisting of oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, a triglycerideof oleic acid [(C₁₇H₃₃COO)₃C₃H₅]-triolein, a vegetable oil, and amixture of said oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, triglycerideof oleic acid.
 3. The mixture according to claim 1, wherein said carrieror support in powder form is present in said solid composition in anamount by weight from 20% to 50%, with respect to weight of the solidcomposition; and wherein said at least one emulsifier which isincorporated or adsorbed or absorbed or applied on the outer surface ischosen from the group consisting of (i), (ii), and (iii), and is presentin said solid composition in an amount by weight from 80% to 50%, withrespect to weight of the solid composition.
 4. The solid mixtureaccording to claim 1, wherein said carrier or support in powder formcomprises at least one inorganic substrate chosen from the groupconsisting of: silica; bentonites; zeolites; sepiolite; and perlite. 5.The solid mixture according to claim 1, wherein said carrier or supportin powder form comprises at least one vegetable substrate chosen fromthe group consisting of: corn cob or corn fiber; broad bean fiber; andpea fiber, wood fiber or grape seed. 6.-7. (canceled)
 8. The solidmixture according to claim 1, wherein said mixture comprises said solidcomposition in powder form in an amount by weight of 10%, and saidmineral inert in an amount by weight of 90%.
 9. An animal feedcomprising the solid mixture according to claim
 1. 10. A methodcomprising: preparing an animal feed in solid form comprising the solidmixture according to claim 1, further comprising liquid and/or solidnutritive substances.
 11. The mixture according to claim 3, wherein saidcarrier or support in powder form is present in said solid compositionin an amount by weight from 30% to 40%, with respect to the weight ofthe solid composition.
 12. The mixture according to claim 3, whereinsaid at least one emulsifier is present in said solid composition in anamount by weight from 70% to 60%, with respect to the weight of thesolid composition.
 13. The solid mixture according to claim 4, whereinthe silica is a colloidal silica.
 14. The solid mixture according toclaim 13, wherein the colloidal silica is at least one member chosenfrom the group consisting of E551a and E551b.
 15. The solid mixtureaccording to claim 4, wherein the sepiolite is a sepiolite E562.
 16. Thesolid mixture according to claim 4, wherein the perlite is a perliteE599.
 17. The solid mixture according to claim 4, wherein said at leastone inorganic substrate has an average granulometric distribution from50 to 250 microns, for at least 95% of said at least one inorganicsubstrate.
 18. The solid mixture according to claim 17, wherein theaverage granulometric distribution is from 100 to 200 microns, for atleast 95% of said at least one inorganic substrate.
 19. The solidmixture according to claim 5, wherein said at least one vegetablesubstrate has an average granulometric distribution from 50 to 250microns, for at least 95% of said at least one vegetable substrate. 20.The solid mixture according to claim 19, wherein the averagegranulometric distribution is from 100 to 200 microns, for at least 95%of said at least one vegetable substrate.
 21. The method of claim 10,wherein the solid nutritive substances are in powder or granular form.